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war1 definition

war (wôr)

noun

  1. open armed conflict between countries or between factions within the same country
  2. any active hostility, contention, or struggle; conflict the war against disease
  3. Obsolete a battle
  4. military operations as a profession or science

Etymology: ME werre < NormFr < Frank *werra, confusion, strife, akin ? to OHG (fir)werran, to confuse < ?

adjective

of, used in, or resulting from war

intransitive verb warred, warring war′·ring

  1. to carry on war; engage in military conflict
  2. to be in a state of hostility or contention; contend; strive
war Idioms

at war

in a state of active armed conflict

declare war (on)

  1. to make a formal declaration of being at war (with)
  2. to announce one's hostility (to)

go to war

  1. to enter into a war
  2. to become a member of the armed forces during a war
war2 definition

war (wär)

adjective, adverb

Scot., North Eng. worse

Etymology: ME < ON verre, adj., verr, adv.; akin to OHG werran, to confuse

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